The Campaign: A Novel

by Marilyn Tucker Quayle, Nancy Tucker Northcott

A conservative African-American senator, Robert Grant is a hopeful in the next presidential campaign, but the incumbent, fearful of losing his power, sets Grant up to take the blame for a murder he did not commit, and Grant must clear his name and solve a murder. $70,000 ad/promo. Tour.

Genres: Christian Fiction

480 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1996

Reviews

[Glenn Russell]

I recently read a Carl Hiassen novel. So much fun. Fans of the author might especially enjoy this book review Carl wrote some years ago, a review of a novel that "stinks worse'n skunk roadkill."

Such an entertaining New York Times review written by Carl Hiaasen. Enjoy!

THE CAMPAIGN By Marilyn Tucker Quayle and Nancy Tucker

Robert Hawkins Grant, a popular Republican senator from Georgia, is coasting toward re-election when things suddenly start to go wrong. First he's framed for the murder of a pesky newspaper reporter. Then he's blamed for the pregnancy and subsequent suicide of a former staff member. And then (as if he didn't have enough headaches), a sleazy jailbird fingers him as a cocaine pusher. Bob Grant astutely connects these shocking headlines with his abrupt slide in the polls and sets out to learn who's trying to destroy him. The list of enemies is daunting. Burdened with the twin political handicaps of being black and conservative, Senator Grant is the natural target of both wild-eyed racists and wild-eyed liberals.

The authors, Marilyn Quayle and her sister Nancy Northcott, leave no doubt as to who is more dangerous. Among those gunning for the stalwart Grant is a venal, powerful Washington newspaper editor named Peter Evans, who (lest readers doubt his left-leaning bias) dates only young, beautiful women and also owns two Picassos. And don't rule out the power-crazed Attorney General, Jonathan Hunter, who has despised Grant ever since the Senator embarrassed the Administration by singlehandedly rescuing post-Castro Cuba from more dirty rotten Communists. Last but not least is the President himself, a typically immoral and philandering Democrat who fears the squeaky-clean Bob Grant as a future challenger. Each day brings a bleak new bombshell for the stoic candidate. Even Grant's son Bailey is unfairly dragged into the scandal, and at one point is seen with "a thunderous scowl denting his forehead." We feel the young man's pain.

Luckily, Grant finds an ally in Jimmy Jenks, a crusty, white cracker sheriff who declares that the whole case "stinks worse'n skunk roadkill." Which, unfortunately, is also true of the writing. Whenever a quickening pace threatens to distract from the dreadful silliness of the plot, readers are halted by quicksand like this: "A vague uneasiness slowly seeped in to fill that void of unaccustomed ignorance."

And seep it does. Even the most rabid thriller fans will find it tough to buy this conspiracy, which involves spies, bimbos, hackers, drug traffickers, the North Koreans and a pair of evil lesbian feminists. Honestly.

Only days before the election, as jackbooted Feds close in, the Senator is forced to become a fugitive. Well, you can imagine what that does to his already hectic campaign schedule. All remaining hope for a serious television debate is dashed when the President issues a shoot-to-kill order. Trailing badly in the polls and now stalked by Government sharpshooters, the Senator knows his only chance of victory is to get on CNN and tell his story. Those who remember Bob Grant from "Embrace the Serpent," the authors' previous novel, won't be surprised by his heroic perseverance, and once again will need plenty of their own.

Although Mrs. Quayle's husband was once Vice President, don't expect juicy tidbits about White House life. While there's a lovely description of the wingback chairs in the Oval Office and a poignant lament on the blasphemous relocation of Ronald Reagan's portrait, some readers will want more.

Clearly, "The Campaign" isn't meant simply as a behind-the-scenes peek at Washington but also as a lesson on its many perils. Listen to the authors on the ruthless Attorney General: "Amassing power and more power was the nectar that nourished the soul. Few men recognized its necessity. Fewer still had inhaled the intoxication of its fragrance. He alone sipped it at will." Thanks, but we'll take ours with caffeine.

[Dick Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was impressed with the work of the former Second Lady and her sister. The tale was exciting. Its characters were interesting with the majors fleshed out beautifully. They only did two books. In my opinion, they should have kept cranking them out. I listened to an audio version.

Rather than a single reader, an array of actors/readers was used. I couldn't find a comprehensive list of them, though I did determine that though actor types were used for the dialog, the naration was done by Marilyn Quayle, herself. I know Sandra Oh reads audio books, and for a while, I thought she was narrating. Quayle purposely did it flat, but I thought she was quite good. In her professional life as an attorney, I'm not sure if she spends much time in court, but I figure would be good in oral arguments. Whoever played the part of the sheriff had or used a great Southern accent.

I would recommend this book in a heartbeat. These sisters need to do two things. First, they should get their two existing books into Kindle format to find a whole new world of readers. Second, they should write more.

[Pat Albu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, though written in 1996, was surprisingly timely. Politics is still ugly. It is a political thriller, and a thriller it is, very well written and very exciting.
The characters were interesting and believable, and the story line was terrifying! I loved it!

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book that kept me up until the wee hours of the night/morning, turning the pages in anticipation of what the evil man would do next. I enjoyed her unique perspective on the political realm.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting, once you get into it you will not want to stop. Long but worthwhile.

[Todd Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a follow up to “Embrace The Serpent”. It could be read as a stand alone, but you will get more enjoyment reading the two books in sequence. Senator Bob Grant is near the end of his third Senate campaign when he becomes immersed in an accusation of murder followed by other scandals. We have many of the characters from the first book with some very interesting new characters such as the good old boy Jimmy Jenks, Sheriff of Oconee County, Georgia.
My only complaint is that Marilyn Quayle and Nancy Northcott did not continue the series. I get most of my books from the Friends of the Library Book store at $25 per bag but they would join a short list of authors that I pre-order upon announcement of a new book.

[Kelli Harpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story moved quickly and sadly makes me think many of the behind the scenes actions happen in our political venues.

[Stephen Holnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great drama, wish I read this years ago. Still resonates today.